Gratitude.

Such a beautiful word. This weekend, I felt true gratitude. I had the privilege to attend a birthday party for my now three-year-old niece (happy birthday today, E.j. girl!) Afterward, I went with my parents to buy a birthday present for E.j. and while I was there, I was hit with a wave of deep gratitude. I mean, how wouldn't you be watching a moment like this:

Okay, maybe this just means a lot to me because my little niece was this little adult, walking around matter-of-factly and my wonderful parents were doing their own browsing. I was so grateful in this moment for families, especially loving and supportive parents, and sweet nieces and nephews, whom I love so much I could burst! I was grateful I had chosen what turned out to be the much harder route in my life by living and working in Utah, as opposed to much further away, so I could be a part of scenes like this. And I was grateful for the moments of pain in my life that have made moments like this taste so sweet.

The moment brought to mind the following quote by President J. Reuben Clark, a former prominent leader of the LDS faith:

Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them.

So often, I've taken the many (MANY) multitudes of blessings in my life for granted, but last night, I couldn't. I instantly knew that this was a moment to sit back and enjoy. I praise my Father in Heaven for moments like this. I am one blessed woman.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET E.J. GIRL!